CHAPTER XVI.TRAPPED.
Nick Carter suppressed any show of surprise upon beholding Belle Braddon approaching. He halted, politely raising his hat, upon observing that the girl intended to speak to him, and they met on the Fifth Avenue corner.
Belle greeted him with a smile and a pretty toss of her well-poised head, saying glibly:
“How-dy do, Mr. Carter? You haven’t been round to call on me, sir, and play that game of ping-pong.”
“True; I haven’t,” replied Nick, rather inclined to laugh at her piquant audacity.
“How many invitations do you require?”
“Well, I can hardly say.”
“I generally have to ask a man but once,” pouted Belle, with a playful shrug of her shoulders. “I guess you don’t enjoy the game.”
“Well, to tell the truth, Miss Braddon, ping-pong is not my long suit,” laughed Ni
